Henby f



(No Model.)

H. 1:". JENKS. Naval or Military Gap.-

No; 237,685. Patented Feb. 15,1881.-

WITNESSES. v INVENTDRQ N ETERS, FHDTO LITHOGRAPRER, WASHINGTON. D. C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY F. JENKS, OF PAWTUOKET, RHODE ISLAND.

NAVAL OR MILITARY CAP.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 237,685, dated February 15, 1881.

Application filed June 7, 1880. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY F. JENKS, of Pawtucket, in the county of Providence and State of Rhode Island, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Naval or Military Gaps, of which the following is a specification.

The object of this invention is to provide a naval or military cap better adapted for use by the army and navy in hot climates, and during the summer months by the militia and members of military schools and companies on parade or in camp; and it consists in making the body of the cap of straw or kindred material, and frontispiece or "isor of that or any other suitable material.

The qualities which particularly fit straw for this purpose to which I have applied it are its lightness, the fact that with its .natural color straw is a non-absorbent of the suns rays, and that ventilation is secured through the interstices of the braided fabric of the hatbody.

The drawing represents, in perspective. my improved straw cap, and illustrates one of the forms in which I have contemplated applying my invention.

In the manufacture of such caps I proceed in the .manner usually practiced in making straw hats of various kinds, either by making long braids of straw, and uniting them in proper shape by sewing, or by interweaving straws and shaping them over a block of the form desired. The peculiar form of a military cap renders its production from straw a more difficult matter than the formation of a hat of ordinary outlines. The height of the front side of the crown (indicated bythe line a 1)) being but about half that of the rear side, at the line 0 d, I am accustomed, when forming the crown from continuous braids of straw sewed together, to overlap them considerably more at and near the front part of the crown than at and toward the rear portion, so as to make up the body of the cap of the necessary number of braids, each passing entirely around the crown, thus giving it a symmetrical appearance, and causing each braid to apparently taper from rear to front. This condensing of the braids along the front part of the cap gives greater stiffness and strength to that part which is most exposed to injury and wear, and is therefore of practical advantage, by increasing the durability of the article. Instead of this construction, the braids may be made broader along the parts intended to form the rear of the crown and gradually narrower toward the front, and thus overlap all to substantially the same extent.

The fore-piece or visor 6 may be formed of leather or stiffer straws extending out horizontally, or nearly so, from the base of the body and returning thereto,and interwoven by a warp of flax thread or fine pliable straw. Such visor may be supplemented or re-enforced by a suitable piece of any desirable material, or replaced by such a piece of proper form embossed to imitate straw-work, and the caps may be colored to suit the fancy, and by lining be made warmer for colder Weather.

Having thus described my invention, I claim 1. As a new article of manufacture, a straw cap, substantially as set forth.

2. A naval or military cap formed of straw, substantially as set forth.

HENRY F. JENKS.

Witnesses:

GEO. E. BAMFORD, OnAs P. ADAMS. 

